“Lets be honest about this, he’s a great player because he plays at BYU and that’s where the great ones end up, right? He dropped 40 against San Diego State and Colorado State, so he can score against surfers and skiers. Do you think he can do that against Duke?” – Colin Cowherd from ESPN’s SportsNation about Jimmer Fredette after he scored 43 points against San Diego State.
Fredette can flat out score, but is he the best player in college hoops?/Photo by Associated Press.
Surfers? Skiers?
Wow. I think he could get at least 27 against Duke even with the Cameron Crazies harassing him.
Now as much as I don’t think Fredette is the best player in college basketball, either, he is having the best season of anyone in the country so that does count for something.
San Diego State was unbeaten and ranked No. 4 in the nation before falling to Fredette and the Cougars, 71-58, on Wednesday night. And let’s face it, BYU wouldn’t be No. 9 without the guy.
However, I follow the NBA more than college hoops. So whether this is fair or unfair, that’s how I judge how good a player is. So to me, he’s very good, but people are talking about him like he’s the best thing ever created.
It’s not even about his stocky build or clean-shaved face or even the fact that he doesn’t play above the rim.
If anyone likes guys who can put the ball in the hole, it’s me, but at the same time, I’ve seen too many guys who can score on the college level and can’t even get their shot off in the NBA.
I hope the guy does make it in the league. He’ll get a shot because every NBA team needs shooters and scorers, but can he do all the other things well enough to stick or can he score better than 90 percent of the players in the NBA to stick?
Right now, he’s leading the nation in scoring at 27.3 points a game so that does count for something.
And he’s done it against more than just surfers and skiers.
Well, considering that you prefer to follow the NBA, your opinion on anything basketball related is suspect at best. The NBA is for kids and men who cannot understand how the game is supposed to played. It’s a team game and most beautiful (and effective) when played as a team. The NBA would do itself a great favor by going back to a truer form of the game, but with all of the incredible athletes it has now. The NBA brand of basketball has favored individual talent over sound team play, because people want to see one-on-one highlights. Defense is nonexistent for most of the season and offense is lackadaisical… as plays are nothing more than clear-out sets for top scorers. A pitiful brand of basketball. But the NBA knows who their viewing market is…
By the way, this is coming from a Div. I player who played professionally in Spain for 6 years. So am I biased against the NBA? Absolutely. But I know basketball.
There have been too many great college players who don’t last long in in the NBA because the offensive “system” favors a different type of scorer. It favors an ugly brand of one-on-one which a player gets the ball and attempts to get fouled as he drives to the hoop. That’s basically it. It’s either a dunk, layup, or foul… and every so often, it’s kicked out to someone camped out for a three. The beauty of the quick, passing game was lost long ago. The NBA averages only 2 touches per possession, resulting in a pitiful FG% of less than 40% (excluding fast break scoring). Ugly, ugly basketball.